Lake Charlevoix Watershed

Lake Charlevoix is one of Michigan's premier inland lakes. With a surface area of over 17,200 acres it is the third largest lake in Michigan. The beauty of Lake Charlevoix has attracted visitors for more than a century with its clean water, scenic shoreline, and superb fishing.

Lake Charlevoix collects water from a 214,400-acre Watershed. The Lake Charlevoix Watershed is predominantly forested. Lake Charlevoix Watershed includes: Lake Charlevoix, the Jordan River, Boyne River, Stover Creek, Horton Creek, Loeb Creek, Deer Creek, Porter Creek, and Monroe Creek. Beech/maple, white pine, and other upland forest account for just over 50% of the land in the Watershed. Wetlands are estimated to account for 22% of land use. Agricultural uses occupy approximately 15% of the land. The urban areas of Boyne City, Boyne Falls, Charlevoix, and East Jordan account for approximately 4% of the land use in the Watershed. The remaining 9% consists of water and other miscellaneous uses. Although this Watershed is still predominantly forested, development is occurring at a rapid pace reducing the amount of forests, agricultural lands, and wetlands.

Lake Charlevoix Water Quality and PollutionThe water quality of Lake Charlevoix and its tributaries is currently good. Maintaining the good water quality (or improving it) requires ensuring activities in the Watershed don't contribute pollutants that can harm water quality. In an effort to reduce nonpoint source pollution, the Lake Charlevoix Watershed Project is focused on maintaining the following components of water quality:

Recreational Quality Support high water quality to encourage all forms of recreation - swimming, boating, and fishing - by reducing inputs of sediment, nutrients, and bacteria.

Fishery Quality Sustain an excellent cold water fishery by reducing sediment and nutrient loads that can threaten fish habitat and result in higher water temperatures in the lake and its river tributaries.

Navigational Quality Maintain lake and river tributary navigation by promoting methods to reduce all means of sediment input.

Lake Charlevoix Nonpoint Source Pollution Inventories SummaryUnderstanding which land use activities are contributing the most nutrient and sediment pollution to Lake Charlevoix and its tributaries is essential for determining how we can best protect our valuable Lake and rivers.

Nonpoint Source Pollution Inventories

Stormwater

Shoreline Pollution

Lakeshore Erosion

Streambank Erosion

Road/Stream Crossing

Recreational Impact Assessment Agriculture

Sensitive Areas Assessment

Forestry

Land Use/Cover Type

Zoning

Build-out Analysis

Inventories completed and ongoing as part of the current Lake Charlevoix Watershed Project have surveyed a variety of land use activities contributing nonpoint source pollution to the lake and its tributaries. Preliminary results reveal sediment contributions form road/stream crossings, shoreline activities, and recreational uses on the rivers. Stormwater discharges in the urban areas, shoreline practices, and agricultural activities have been identified as sources of nutrient pollution.

Reducing the amount of nonpoint source pollution and preventing future contributions to Lake Charlevoix is essential to protecting the many high quality uses this resource provides including swimming, boating, and fishing. The proposal implementation activities for the Lake Charlevoix Watershed Project will work towards this goal.

Recommended Actions to use land use tools to reduce nonpoint source pollution

Develop model zoning standards for the Watershed with basic definitions and standards to setbacks, greenbelts, conservation planning, redevelopment of shoreline properties, and other similar measures to reduce pollution.

Implement ongoing education program for local governments on land use planning tools that can help protect water quality and encourage better coordination among neighboring townships Identify nonconforming lots on lakeshore and work with townships to discuss potential water quality impacts and solutions.